The flow of time is always cruel... Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it... A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days...Sheik

Revisiting Kokiri Forest is an strange experience. Not only is the place full of monsters, but since the Kokiri never grow up none of them recognise you (although a few do wonder about what happened to Link). The place has a very different feel, and like with Castle Town it really hits home how Ganondorf's influence is corrupting everything.

The lost woods are still a complete maze. I'm going to have to map them on pen and paper to find all the secrets in there (the mask contest, the Skullkid minigames, the lost doors), but I did in the end find my way back to the Sacred Forest Meadow to play tag with the Moblins. If you're sneaky or very quick you can take them out with the hookshot, but my hookshot-fu was weak this time and several Moblins managed to splat me. Ouch. I also didn't have any Bombchus and so had to actually close with the Moblin with the hammer at the end... which again took multiple attempts of getting the timing with dodging right.

The Wolfos on the other hand were as laughably easy as they've always been. Z-target one, back-flip when it attacks, and then jump attack its conveniently exposed tail to one-shot it.

At the end of the meadow, instead of meeting Saria (who's apparently inside the Forest Temple somewhere) the mysterious Sheik drops in for a visit with a mysterious poem, before mysteriously disappearing in a mysterious flash of light. Mysterious indeed. Still, he does teach you another warp song and I do like how these all have musical names to them - this one's a minuet. I rather like the way OoT uses the Ocarina - all the songs continue for a few bars beyond the notes you play, with the warping songs being short orchestral pieces. Majora's Mask was a bit disappointing here.

Anyway, with that all done it's a quick leap up the ruined staircase with the hookshot and on into the Forest Temple!

When I see you... I don't know why, but I remember... him...And also... I'm sorry for being mean to him. Tell him that, too.Mido